The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-29

which is generally preferred in this city, the |
price is % cents higher. The cost Of this
SchuylKill GOAL is at the mines $500
Freight to Wilmington 1.70l
Cost of unloading cars aud screening
and waste 30
hsuhnRl so
+ This leaves so cents per ton to pay for
yard and Office rent, clerk hire, and profit to
the dealer. There is no brown stone house
in that profit The freight by railroad or by
water, si70, is the same to all parties, " hole
sale and retail, The retail dealers buy their
coal where they please; quite number from
Philadelphia and Wholesale shippers, while
others prefer to purchase from Wilmington
Wholesale dealers, as it costs the same in
either case. The price of coal at New Castle
is the same as at Wilmington. Free burn
ingiis mostly sold there, as 1t comes by the
Pennsylvania railroad, and, IL 1t is taken
from the coal yard in either place, it can be
bought for %. The price OF coal at Middle.
town Is 90. $50 cents higher than It is here.
What money has been made by men In this
trade, has been BY long years of steady ap-
plcstion to business, ten hours day, and
by careful economy"
Now of course, as It csunot be denied that
the price as stated above, per ton, is exor-
bitant the question Ia where does the trouble
liep In what item as detailed by Mr. Bush
ia the excess involvsdP Beginning at the
foot Of the statement of the gentleman quo
ted, just above the total rs 40 per ton, the
item 90 cents for hauling is found. We will
] let that item go IS perhaps circumstances
justify that charge. The next ia 20 cents,
account Of unloading cars and sefeening
and waste 1t might be suggested to allow
that item 90 also for perhaps similar reasons.
Next comes the item sl.7o for freight of
ton Of coal from the SShuylkill mines in
Pennsylvania to Wilmington, Delaware.
Hele now we are on debateable ground. The
question arises immedistely--Is it not an ex-
horbitsnt rating to charge such sum? 1t
is not said that Mr.. Bush makes that rate,
or who makes it. but it is asserted both
properly and truthfully that the s1. 20 rating
for such carriage is excessive, and It Is az.
serted that thousands Of poor people in VIII.
mipgtnn have TO defrsy that expense 1t
comes ont of the pockets Of the poor. Let
US eudeayor to show thsn it is that this is an
excessive charge.
Tho Schuylkill mines 10 the anthracite
region of Pennsylvania are, in general and
fair estimate about eqnidistsut from New
York and Wilmington. That is to say let
the miEes be centre of which the different
rail routes (making fair allowances for di-
vergsnces and elbows) terminating on eth
or hand at New York City and Wilmington.
are rSdii, there will bo found 80 little of dis.
parity in the two mileages to either State
metropolises from the schuglkill mines, that
the cost Of ton Of coal over the roxtes TO
New York should not cost moro than the
carriage of a ton Of coal from same mines to
Wilmington, Delaware. 1t is true that the
numerous competing lines from the mines
running to New York would perhaps les
sen the retail cost of a ton in that city. But
still the general figures viii not affect the
statement that while from these mines vii.
mingtonisns have to pay freight rate Of
t1,70 per ton according to Mr. Bush's state.
ment, Now Yorkers need pay for the same
services but s1.2s5 per ton.
Again according TO the statement referred
to, the first item $780, would be considered
by certain competent auth rit les excessively
eIorbitant az By quoting such authorities
(vhose assertions aud description We give
below 1t will ba seen that the ton Of Goa
loaded on the cars ready for despatch to New
York is possible Of being sold for 81. 3sJ pei
ton allowing for the needed items Of royalt,
to owners, the miners pay per ton (as he Il
! paidl, expense Of preparation and placing OF
: cars, maintenance Of mine, profit Of operator
3 &c, &c.,-all included in the above fgursI
: of sl.3ss as against hr. Bush's 30Ol
: Following, 10 the statement referred 1,
8 quoted from the Nsw York Herald Of No
Tember last when that journal was vigor
p ously working hand and hand with tn
Pennsylvania Authorities aud Governor Pat
r tisOn in his effort to counteract the Goa
monopoly in that State. The Herald o
course claims its figures to be exact as cal
DO under the circumstances. It gives wha
is claimed to be a fair recouping paymen
D for a ton Of coal mined In the Schuylkil
{ Valley and placed at retail, by the 'bueke
, in the streets of New York at ss.4S.
Royalty tO land owner, l2io. to 25o.,
say SU.eO
Paid to miner per 1850 lbs, 65c., yield
ing when prepared and placed Oh cars
say $500 lbs. or per ton of =, $40 lbs.,
a say %
Expense Of preparation and placing on
cars, maintenance Of mine, profit of